If you made it this far, then you should be aware of the warnings.

Songs:

Emotions; Destiny's Child

Rap God; Eminem

I won't say I'm in love; Hercules

Go the Distance; Hercules

Ch. 16

Jazz was following Optimus with a few data pads in his servos. He stopped in his tracks when he saw a mirage of himself holding something in his arms, rocking it back and forth while humming a melody. The Polyhexian started walking towards the mirage in hopes of getting a closer look, but Optimus's servo landing on his shoulder snapped him out of his trance. "Jazz?"

Jazz shook his helm and looked back in the direction of where he saw the mirage. "I-I… I'm fine, sorry. Thought I saw something, sorry." Unconvinced, Optimus just nodded and led him to where they were originally heading. "Optimus, where are we going?" He was confused, not terrified as he would be before, just confused and nervous when they were reaching the exit of the building.

"Well every so often Elita and I go to one of the schools in Iacon to talk about the history of the war or sometimes the origins of the Primes, but Elita is in Velocity visiting Firestar and Chromia so I figured I'd bring you." Optimus said with a smile, though Jazz had to imagine the smile. They transformed and headed for the school, Jazz didn't know how to feel about being not only in an unknown environment, but also be surrounded by younglings.

::Optimus, are you sure it's the wisest thing to bring me into a school filled with younglings? I know next to nothing about younglings, and the minis don't really count because they're all full grown adults.:: Jazz had gotten two letters from Prowl since he replied to the first one. He went to Bluestreak for therapy and had almost explored all of the downtown area with Ironhide. It was only five more solar cycles until Blaster took him and the minis to Helix for the music festival.

::I have faith in you Jazz. All of your friends have faith and belief in you Jazz, the only one you need to convince is yourself.:: Optimus comforted the smaller mech as they arrived at a colorful building that had a play structure next to it. They transformed and walked inside, and Jazz soon realized that it was a room with ten sparklings. There were small tables and chairs to the left of the room, a soft floor mat in the center of the room, a board on the wall facing the tables, a section for toys in the corner, and a section for their bags. In the corner of the room was a desk where the teacher sat.

"Optimus, you're early!" Jazz didn't recognize the white and pink femme, but he sure recognized the Autobot insignia on her frame. She hugged the Prime before looking at the mechs and femmes that were busy coloring at their tables. "Hello Jazz, I'm Arcee."

The sparklings all turned around with cheers when they saw Optimus. Jazz shifted his weight as he flashed a smile. "Hi." One of the sparklings was Polyhexian and ran up to Jazz with amazement in her optics. Her armor started clicking, and Jazz crouched down in front of her with his armor clicking back. She started giggling before grabbing his servo.

"Arcee, I want him to tell story!" She started jumping up and down excitedly. Soon the all of the other sparklings demanded the same thing.

"You'll have to use your manners and ask Jazz, Freeway." She smiled at the femmeling, and immediately the other sparklings surrounded Jazz with their EM fields flaring with excitement as they begged Jazz to tell them a story.

The Polyhexian slowly stood up with his field buzzing with uncertainty. "Ah don't know any good stories. Why don't you let Optimus tell you a story?" He didn't like being surrounded by tiny Cybertronians, feeling like this would have been his fate if he stayed loyal to Soundwave.

The sparklings all collectively started crying, which only panicked Jazz even more. Arcee knew that they were testing their guest's will power. Optimus tried to comfort a few of the sparklings, but they were set on getting their way. "Jazz, they're only going to stop if you tell them a story."

"But Optimus, I don't have any stories. I'm not good with sparklings, I told you this." His stress was elevating before an idea came to him. "How about a song? I'll sing you all a song if you stop crying, please."

And just like that they stopped bawling their optics out, letting out sniffles and puppy optics all looking up at the mech. The sparklings were once again smiles and the sat in a circle around Jazz. He bit his lip as he tried to think of a song to sing.

Dear Theodosia, what to say to you?

You have my eyes

You have your Sire's pride

When you came into the world, you cried, and it broke my spark

I'm dedicating every day to you

Domestic life was never quite my style

When you smile, you knock me out, I fall apart

And I thought I was so smart

You will come of age with our young nation

We'll bleed and fight for you; we'll make it right for you

If we lay a strong enough foundation

We'll pass it on to you, we'll give the world to you

And you'll blow us all away

Someday, someday

Yeah, you'll blow us all away

Someday, someday

Oh Rico, when you smile, I am undone

My son

Look at my son

Pride is not the word I'm looking for

There is so much more inside me now

Oh Rico, you outshine the morning sun

My son

When you smile, I fall apart

And I thought I was so smart

My Sire wasn't around

I swear that

I'll be around for you

I'll do whatever it takes

I'll make a million mistakes

I'll make the world safe and sound for you

Will come of age with our young nation

We'll bleed and fight for you; we'll make it right for you

If we lay a strong enough foundation

We'll pass it on to you, we'll give the world to you

And you'll blow us all away

Someday, someday

Yeah, you'll blow us all away

Someday, someday

After Jazz was done singing several tiny servos shot up. He pointed at an Iaconian mechling with a smile. "Who's Th-Theo… that really big word you said?"

"It's not a who exactly. It's a nickname Polyhexians like myself called sparklings. It means center of one's universe." His field was calm enough that Optimus didn't feel like he should put Ratchet on speed dial. The sparklings, even Freeway were even more excited.

"Did you fight in the wars?!" A Velocitron mechling asked while trying to control the speed of his voice. Jazz tensed up with a nod of his helm. "Were you one of the good guys!?"

After the second question, Jazz tried to change the subject for his own sake. "Hey, why don't I sing you another song?" They all started pouting again, and Jazz started looking at Optimus and Arcee for help.

"Sparklings, remember when we talked about feelings? It makes Jazz sad when he talks about the war." Arcee parted the sea of tiny frames to get them to focus on her. "Why don't we have Optimus talk about the origins of the Matrix of leadership?"

"Yeah!" The high-pitched voices said excitedly while forming a semicircle around Optimus as he sat in a chair that was in front of the mesh carpet. Jazz stuck to the outer part of the room, feeling nervous about a lot of things.

"Why are you scared?" A tiny servo tugged on Jazz's digit. He looked down and saw a white and black Polyhexian with big red optics. I don't mean to be scary. He shook his helm with his visors deactivating briefly. The Polyhexian was replaced with a Praxian mechling with blue optics.

"Huh? Oh, I'm not scared. Just…listening to the story." Jazz tried to hold an encouraging smile. I'll be less scary I promise. Is that why you leave? The Polyhexian felt his spark clench tightly, and he quickly left the building. He went to the shaded area with his servo going on his chest plate. "Calm down Jazz, you're okay. No, no that's not why I leave. They wouldn't understand you. I did it to protect you. I made myself forget you to protect you."

"Forget who?" Jazz looked up and saw Arcee standing beside him with her servo landing on his shoulder gently. "Who did you forget to protect?"

He tried think of who it was, but no faces came, and no names crossed his thoughts. Jazz looked up at the sky with tears falling down his face. "I…don't know."

After Jazz and Optimus's time at the school, the sparklings all said good-bye, and the duo left to return to the Prime towers. He was quiet the entire time until they arrived back at work. The Polyhexian looked at Optimus with a guilty look, "Optimus I need to tell you something. It's about what you asked me before, about the name Meister." The taller mech nodded and they entered the elevator before he spoke again. "Whenever I was at Halifax's I went by the name Meister once he discovered I could play basically any musical instruments under the suns. And we did up my paintjob so that nobody knew I was Soundwave's slave. I lied about the name because it reminded me of Halifax, and my failure in protecting my friend. Sorry."

"I forgive you Jazz, and the mech going by this name is someone else that seems to be interested in you." Optimus looked at the shorter mech with a bit of concern. "Are you okay? I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable, I figured it would be nice to get out instead of staying here and doing desk work."

First this Skids and now some mech using my old stage name? What do they want from me? Jazz frowned with confusion but looked up at Optimus with a smile. "Well despite my small little panic, I enjoyed it. Though, maybe a bit of notice would be nice?" Optimus chuckled with a nod; Jazz folded an arm behind his back with a thoughtful look. "Reminds me of when Spike and Carly took Bee, Hound, Skyfire, and I to this fundraiser for that children's hospital. That was fun well until the Combaticons ruined the party."

"I think that was the same day that you came back with your leg strut so broken that Ratchet had to rebuild your entire leg. He said so many curse words, I think he even invented some." The Prime was stilled astonished about Ratchet's reaction to seeing Jazz walking into the med bay as if to have a friendly chat.

The Polyhexian started laughing hard, it got so out of control that Jazz started crying from laughing and his intakes started hiccupping. "Primus stop. That was the funniest slag I have ever heard. It was the first time I think we started combining Earth and Cybertronian slurs? He actually started hitting me with the wrench he used specifically for the twins." He wiped away any signs of his tears of joy before smiling again. "Thanks, Prime, I needed that."

"You're welcome Jazz, I don't think you've ever laughed that hard in a long time." The red and blue mech admitted before they left the elevator and went to the office. On their desks were piles of datapads to which Jazz made a comment about how it's like the war all over again. They got to work before Optimus decided to ask about the song. "So, Jazz, that song you sang to the sparklings. Where did you hear it?"

"Mmm, I dunno it just was the first song that came to mind. The tune was my Carrier's humming, but the words? I couldn't tell you." He shrugged before resting his chin in his servo with a smile as he looked at the crystals he still had on his desk. They're so pretty, I could look at them forever.

After work, Jazz quickly entered with excitement which grew even more when he saw a package sitting on the table. He saw his name and he quickly opened it before staring at it with confusion. Praxus assorted energon and tickets? The Polyhexian picked up the data card and started reading it.

Dear Jazz,

I'm glad to hear that you are enjoying the music chip so much. And from what I've been able to get out of my brother, you are having less memory fluxes which is also good. I still remember that you love acidic flavors, so I went to a popular shop here in Praxus that specializes in assorted treats. The tickets are for you to take someone to a play that is going to be happening in a Stellar cycle. It is in Iacon. I hope you enjoy it. You didn't need to send me a gift or thank me, I figured you would appreciate to have some things from my home city.

And thank you for your congratulations on my promotion. It will take a bit of getting used to the extra workload, but it will be worth it. I hope Optimus is going easy on you with desk work, we all know that you would rather suffer a hangover than do desk work.

Prowl

Jazz chuckled as he read it another time, this time eating one of the gel cubes. "You're right, not as acidic as I make them." He took out the tickets in his servos with a deep thought. "A play huh?" His spark started fluttering and his field as nothing but happiness.

"Well someone is in a happy mood, what happened win the lottery?" Ironhide walked in with a slight limp, which concerned Jazz.

"Ha, I wish. No, Prowl gave me tickets, but I don't know who to take. So, what happened?" Jazz gestured at the limp. "Get into another fight with Chromia?"

"No, slagging Stunticons tried jumping me while I was escorting them back to their cells. Motormaster managed to kick me before their collars activated. And then Chromia and I got into an argument of me getting injured. Speaking of, she's going to be coming over for a couple lunar cycles." Ironhide started to say, but Jazz knew what that was going to lead into to.

"Yeah, yeah I'll be sure to soundproof my room. Seriously invest in a gag for yourself." Jazz stuck his glossa out before exaggerating a shiver of disgust. He placed the box of treats back inside the box it was shipped in and made his way back to his room. The Polyhexian looked down at his pelvic plating with a flicker of doubt. Ever since he had Ratchet unlock his plating, Jazz was fearful of even self-facing. "It wouldn't hurt to do it just once right?"

Jazz put everything on his desk before laying on his berth with his back against the wall. He looked at his plating with thought, and then let both his spike plating and valve cover slide open. The mech hummed uncomfortably, not sure where to begin and was just looking at his valve as if it was supposed to do something. "Hmm, where do I even begin?" He closed his optics and tried to think of something arousing, but he couldn't. When something came to mind, Soundwave would appear in his thoughts, and after five failed attempts at trying to turn himself on Jazz closed everything up with a heavy sigh. "I'm broken and now I can't get aroused. What use am I if I can't get turned on?"

He stared at the two packages sitting on his desk before reaching under his pillow and pulled out the moonstone he still had. A small smile appeared on his face before he slid it back under the pillow. Thank you for giving me another chance at whatever this is. The Polyhexian played the only ballad he liked from the chip Prowl gave him; not that he didn't like any of the others, it was just the one song that could help him recharge. "Maybe one day I'll tell you about Europe."

Three solar cycles had pass since Prowl's last letter was sent, and the mech was pacing in front of his front door waiting for the postal drone to appear with his highly anticipated letter from Jazz. Bluestreak was in Iacon having a session with Jazz while Smokescreen was off on a date with his future mate. The oldest of the three brothers was now even more busy with his new position after Indigo was damaged to the point of early retirement, but it kept him distracted enough to pass the time for when Jazz's letters came. The small slot in his door lifted with a sealed datapad falling to the ground in front of his peds. Prowl quickly picked it up and went to his living room as he broke the seal.

Prowl,

The assortment you gave me was generous, thank you. I hope the acid flavored sweets I gave Blue to give to you were okay. It's weird to have a "normal" job, if that makes sense to you. I hope you're doing well. Hide keeps saying he sees the 'old me' showing whenever I get nervous, but I don't know if that's a good thing. Prime mentioned me using slang when I get excitable. Blaster has been helping me with everything, and it's nice to have a safe feeling bond. It's going to be weird when we break it off, and I know that I'll be able to do it one day but for now it's what I need. Blaster says that the reason, is because my symbiont part of my spark and processor is still unsure about everything. The Host bond is the only thing it is comfortable and sure about. The mech part of me is wanting to be free and not in a bond, but the thought of not having someone in my helm and feeling someone else's emotions terrifies me.

Jazz

Prowl sat down on the couch with his wings moving excitedly at how much Jazz had written. Before it had been only a few lines, and they were typically to thank Prowl for his gifts, apologize for hurting him, and then a quick 'looking forward to your next letter'. The Praxian sat the datapad down before reaching forward and grabbing one of the small gel cubes he had gotten from Jazz and popped it in his mouth. "The music festival is tomorrow, maybe I'll include that in my reply. He sounds so happy and relaxed in this letter, maybe this was a good approach."

Chances of him accepting to go out for some energon, seventy-one percent. Prowl rechecked the numbers before he started getting excited and started coming up with a way to ask Jazz for energon. While he was planning, Bluestreak had returned with a smile on his face and his wings moving happily. "Oh, someone is in a happy mood. Can't be that promotion still, could it be seeing your favorite brother? Or is it a Polyhexian?"

"Your obvious joke is noted, and your assumption is correct. His letter was just delivered. Am I allowed to know how today's session went, or am I still denied?" The oldest Praxian asked as Bluestreak sat down beside him. "Bluestreak, can I ask as to why you haven't sought out a mate? Not even during the war you seemed interested in taking anyone as your own."

"Hmm, well I have a couple prospects, but they wouldn't be interested in having a shrink in their helms constantly. And just knowing they are happy with each other is enough for me, even if it pains me not to be brave enough to reveal my feelings for them." Bluestreak answered with a soft smile before answering the previous question. "Jazz is doing a lot better; I think having him open the bond between him and Blaster has helped with opening up. As for anything else, no you don't get to know. And you will continue to not know until Jazz is comfortable with you being a part of his sessions. What you two are doing, is enough for him at the moment. Prowl, I know you want to see Jazz, but we can't expect him to recover at the speed you or I want."

He nodded with a heavy sigh, "I know. And if letters are what it takes to have some sort of contact with him, then I'll take it. Did you hear about Newgate?" Bluestreak shook his helm, and Prowl continued. "I guess Soundwave mentally snapped and Optimus is preparing to hold a trial. To see what the public wishes to do to him. Though from what I heard, some of the Tarn natives are demanding Soundwave and his Cassetticons be handed to them for trial."

"Well that isn't going to happen, he is wanted for sparkling napping, slavery, and his involvement in the war! The Tarn leaders can't seriously expect the Council to just hand him over as if his prewar crimes never happened!?" Bluestreak said, completely baffled by what he just heard. "I can't see Optimus being dumb enough to allow a mech like Soundwave to roam free! Not only could it start another war, but what about Jazz's safety?"

Prowl frowned deeply as he knew what his brother was getting at. "Jazz would be terrified enough to actually flee Cybertron. And if Soundwave was freed then he could start an uprising, finish what he and Megatron started all of those deci-vorns ago. Optimus will listen to me; I'll make sure that he doesn't allow that monster to roam free."

"Prowl, don't do anything reckless." Bluestreak knew that Prowl was just like their Sire when it came to protecting his family. He remembered one time their Sire nearly stripped an overcharged mech of his wings for making a move on their Carrier. In Praxus, their city's forced interface crimes were only one percent of their crime statistics because the punishment of forced interface was banishment and wing stripping, which was worse than deactivation. Prowl knew what Bluestreak was getting at, and he nodded silently in agreement.

"I won't do anything to embarrass myself nor endanger anyone's life." Prowl reassured his brother before his battle computer blurted out two names and a percentage of the likelihood, they are the mechs Bluestreak was crushing on. "Sunstreaker and Sideswipe, they are the only 'they' we know. If you care to know I've calculated a 78.9% success rate in being accepted at even just courting them." The enforcer informed his brother with a supportive flick of his wings.

Bluestreak was surprised by the acceptance he just got from Prowl on courting the twins. His wings were flared in equal surprise, "You're actually okay with the idea of me courting those two? Like seriously, you're okay with that?"

"Correct, though I suppose I would have noticed sooner had I not been so… preoccupied. Then again if I wasn't and you came to me ask for permission to court them during the war, I would have said no for a few reasons." Prowl picked up the remote and turned on the holo screen before watching the news. "Have you visited Autobot city on Earth recently?"

"Sadly, I haven't, I want to go sometime when it hits wintertime. So that I can see Carly, Spike, and Daniel! What about you, planning on visiting Earth?" The steel blue mech asked with a smile on his face. Maybe I'll message them when I get home.

"Possibly, I'm not sure yet though. Bluestreak, does Jazz still wish to be Praxian? During the war, he always talked about wishing to have wings. He even had this irrational fear that when the war ended, I would want a Praxian to be mated too. Despite how much I would tell him that I did not want that." Prowl flicked his wings and got a look from his brother, and he put his servos in the air. "Okay, okay I won't ask. I was just wanting to know."

Blaster could see the pure excitement from Jazz struggling to contain his excitement. The Polyhexian was turning around in circles as he took in all of the booths, crowds, sounds, and colors of the music festival. To the Host it was like seeing a sparkling meeting their idol for the first time. His field was bouncing all over the place when he saw new and familiar instruments. The Cassetticons were just as excited, but it was to be able to be with their creator besides at work. Jazz stopped dead in his tracks when his auditory horns were picking up a wonderful song, and he deactivated his visors before opening his end of the bond up completely.

For the first time, everyone in the bond could feel everything Jazz was feeling. They even could see what their adopted family member could see. Blaster took the Polyhexian's servo, giving him a supportive squeeze. "Jazz, dis is amazin'. Ah thought Ah understood what it was like tah have passion for music. But tah see dah soul bein' played, it's even more beautiful." Jazz reactivated his visors to look into the red and yellow mech's visors. "And what better place tah see dah soul in bots who love music as much as ya do than Helix?"

"Blaster, Ah… Ah love it! Dah music, dah beat, if Ah could Ah would shout tah express myself." Jazz looked at his Host with an excited flare of his field as they stood in front of a booth that had a variety of Aghartan electro-basses that were neatly propped on display or in their cases. He looked at his friend with a smile on his face, and it turned down slightly when he saw the smirk on the other's lips. "What?"

"Ya used yer slang. Never thought Ah would miss hearin' it. Ya can sample 'em if ya want." Blaster offered before looking at his Cassetticons and gave them the typical 'behave yourselves and keep the bond open' talk before giving them a few credits to spend while he walked with Jazz around. Ya seem disappointed, what's up?

It's embarrassing. His face heated up as they continued walking through the crowds. I wanted to self-service, but I… I couldn't. What am I going to do when my heat cycle starts? I only had three actual heat cycles, and that was during the war! And I had… I had someone to help me with it. Jazz looked at his friend in silence, before folding his arms in front of himself. "Thanks for this Blaster, as much as I appreciate Ironhide wanting me to socialize more, going to the bar while him, Kup, Springer, and Huffer get overcharged isn't my idea of fun."

Blaster started laughing before throwing his arm over Jazz's shoulder, a quick moment of surprise from the lack of flinching. "Ah'd be lyin' if Ah said Ah envied ya, but Ah don't. So, when ya do open dah bond up when ya recharge yer a lot happier. Ah haven't experienced dah backlash of a memory flux. Take it dat yer communication with Prowl is part of it? Do ya plan on thinkin' of tellin' him?"

"Telling him what? That I appreciate his gifts, but I want none of it and that just getting typed out words from him every other half deca-cycle is enough for me? No, I don't. I know where you're getting at Blaster, but love is as real as Primus or Unicron." Jazz turned his helm away with a scowl. I wasn't spark mate material. He walked in front of Blaster and stopped near a cheering crowd as a femme climbed back onto a large platform.

"Who is brave enough to go up against our five-time champion in a battle over the prize of the brand-new cybernetic piano!?" She asked with enough excitement that it got the crowd excited. Her unique green optics locked onto Jazz's visors and she smiled before pointing at her fellow Polyhexian. A few of the viewers started pushing Jazz closer to the stage, despite his obvious resistance, even as he was pulled onto the stage. He started releasing fast intakes as he looked down below at Blaster. The Host mech could see the fear in Jazz's stance, but he couldn't get through the crowd fast enough to save him. "Well look who it is, we have a very special guest! Ex-Autobot Jazz, named after genre of music, filled with soul, who wants to see how much soul this mech really has?!"

Jazz waved his servos in front of himself before the mechs and femmes down below roared in agreement. Blaster, I'm going to have a panic attack! Help! Help! Help! He had a microphone shoved into his servos. A field expanded into his, calming him down enough that he realized that it wasn't Blaster's field. The mech looked up and saw the dark blue Praxian standing in front of him, but he had a pair of yellow visors covering his optics. The mech was replaced with another when he really looked at him. Prowl? He shook his helm clear when the beat started playing.

Skids's wings flared and he rushed to the edge of the stage before starting with so much confidence that Jazz didn't see from their first meeting. He turned to Jazz and did a mocking calming gestured at the Polyhexian's direction.

Look, I was gonna go easy on you and not to hurt your feelings

But I'm only going to get this one chance

Something's wrong, I can feel it (Six minutes, Slim Shady, you're on)

Just a feeling I've got, like something's about to happen, but I don't know what

If that means, what I think it means, we're in trouble, big trouble,

And if he is as bananas as you say, I'm not taking any chances

You were just what the doctor ordered

I'm beginning to feel like a Rap God, Rap God

All my people from the front to the back nod, back nod

Now who thinks their arms are long enough to slap box, slap box?

They said I rap like a robot, so call me Rapbot

But for me to rap like a computer must be in my genes

I got a laptop in my back pocket

My pen'll go off when I half-cock it

Got a fat knot from that rap profit

Made a living and a killing off it

Ever since Trion was still in office

With Madam Lewinsky feeling on his nut-sack

I'm an MC still as honest

But as rude and indecent as all hell syllables, killaholic (Kill 'em all with)

This slickety, gibbedy, hibbedy hip hop

You don't really wanna get into a pissing match with this rappidy brat

Packing a Mac in the back of the Ac, backpack rap crap, yep, yackidy-yac

And at the exact same time I attempt these lyrical acrobat stunts while I'm practicing

That I'll still be able to break a motherfuckin' table

Over the back of a couple of faggots and crack it in half

Only realized it was ironic I was signed to Aftermath after the fact

How could I not blow? All I do is drop F-bombs, feel my wrath of attack

Rappers are having a rough time period, here's a Maxipad

It's actually disastrously bad

For the wack while I'm masterfully constructing this masterpiece as

I'm beginning to feel like a Rap God, Rap God

All my people from the front to the back nod, back nod

Now who thinks their arms are long enough to slap box, slap box?

Let me show you maintaining this shit ain't that hard, that hard

Jazz's optics widened and he looked at Blaster and then the Praxian that was hyping up the crowd. Rap? I don't Rap. What do I do?! He saw a flash of smiling younglings sitting at his peds, and the same song he sang to the sparklings came to mind. The Polyhexian had all optics staring at him, which was enough to turn his helm away as he started to sing.

My love is higher than the sky

Deeper than the ocean

Warmer than the sun

Shining down on me

Quiet as a prayer

All my love

I will sing

Of joy and glory

I will sing the look in your eyes

I will sing

Till all the world knows your story

I will sing

For the rest of my life

For the rest of my life

I will sing for the rest of my life

As he sang, Jazz slowly looked up to see that Skids's visors were slowly being taken off and his field was filled with sadness. His wings fell as Jazz started gaining a bit of confidence with each note. The crowd said nothing, but some brave souls held up the pale blue night sticks that were passed around the festival. When his turn ended the judges started tallying the results, and the scores were tied in Jazz's surprise. They were given the choice of picking what to compete in. The Praxian spoke into the microphone after finally collecting himself.

"If Jazz here can keep up with the new trends, why not emotional singing? I'll sing what he's feeling, and he sings what I'm feeling. That is unless he wants to call it quits." Skids waved his wings confidently with a smirk almost a mix of Prowl's and his own.

Emotional singing? How do you do that? Jazz asked Blaster over the bond, and Blaster quickly explained it.

Ya have yer fields overlappin' and ya sing. It started a few deci-vorns ago. Ya don't have tah do it Jazz. The Host mech said before he looked to his right, seeing Bumblebee slinking behind the booths and through the crowd. He couldn't hear his thoughts, which meant that the buffer was working like it was supposed to. Jazz bit his lip before looking at the young Praxian with a nod. "Bring it on kid, but I'm not easy to read."

The crowd all 'oohed' at the sudden cockiness from the Polyhexian, though they didn't realize that he was faking it. "If that's true then I hope that you don't get a little discouraged from this. Give me distress and passion!" The band started playing before Skids stepped closer into the invisible field, before giving an innocent smile.

If there's a prize for rotten judgement,
I guess I've already won that
No mech is worth the aggravation
That's ancient history, been there, done that

Who d'you think you're kidding
He's the earth and heaven to you
Try to keep it hidden,
Honey we can see right through you
Mech you can't conceal it
We know how you're feeling
Who you thinking of

No chance no way I won't say it, no
(You swoon you sigh why deny it oh oh)
It's too cliché I won't say I'm in love
I thought my spark had learned its lesson
It feels so good when you start out
My helm is screaming "Get a grip mech
Unless you're dying to cry your spark out"

Mech you can't deny it
Who you are is how you're feeling
Baby we're not buying
Hon we saw you hit the ceiling
Face it like a grown-up
When you gonna own up that you got, got, got it bad

No chance no way I won't say it, no, no
(Give up, give in, check the grin you're in love)
This scene won't play I won't say I'm in love
(We'll do it until you admit you're in love)
You're way off base I won't say it
Get off my case I won't say it
(Mech don't be proud it's okay you're in love)
At least out loud I won't say I'm in love

Skids poked Jazz's chest as he did things to get reactions he wanted. The Polyhexian crossed his arms with a hidden glare and deep frown. "Ah ain't in love with anyone kid. Ah don't believe in it."

"If that were true, your field wouldn't be filled with it. Come on, what does my field say?" He asked away from the range of the mics before stepping with his servos folded in front of himself. Blaster saw and felt something change in Jazz's thoughts; almost as he did during the war when he was trying to get into his target's processor with only his actions. The visored mech started circling the Praxian before facing him again.

I have often dreamed

Of a far of place

Where a great, warm, welcome

Will be waiting for me

Where the crowds will cheer

When they see my face

And a voice keeps saying

This is where I'm meant to be

I will find my way

I can go the distance

I'll be there someday

If I can be strong

I know every mile

Will be worth my while

I would go most anywhere

To feel like I belong

I am on my way

I can go the distance

I don't care how far

Somehow, I'll be strong

I know every mile

Will be with my while

I would go most anywhere

To find where I belong

Jazz looked at Skids with an emotionless face before dropping the microphone and jumped back to the ground. The crowd moved back when Jazz grabbed Blaster's servo, dragging him away while the femme that started the whole ordeal was calling out for him to return to the stage. "Jazz? J man, what's wrong? Ya were doin' awesome up there! Ah didn't think ya had it in ya tah sing in public."

"I want to go home." He closed his field off as he continued to drag the mech behind him. Jazz didn't know why the mech made him so angry, but to be told to admit that he was in love was beyond infuriating. Blaster took control of the situation and sat him down at a nearby table. "Sorry."

"Don't be J, so what happened at yer session with Blue yesterday?" Blaster asked while comforting the stressed mech. He wanted to distract Jazz from as much of the news as possible, especially after catching word that Soundwave was going to have a trial. The mech was going to make sure that that couldn't happen. "How are things goin' with work? Does havin' Steel there with ya help with stress?"

"Blue asked me how things were going with Hide, how writing to Prowl is going, about the attack, if any more memory files opened up, if my heat cycle started, and then we talked about our bond and then we moved onto going into the kitchen and eating some of the treats I made. He told me that he thinks that since I'm not a quote 'high stakes case' anymore, that I could go to someone else, but I don't want anyone else. I know he treats me nicely simply because he sees me as a friend, but I just fear that anyone else will just treat me poorly." He laid his helm on the cool tabletop with his arms acting as a pillow.

"Ah don't know anythin' on therapy, but if yer comfortable with Blue then Ah see no reason ya should force yerself tah see someone else. As for yer heat cycle, maybe Ah can talk tah Hide about lettin' ya stay with meh and help ya out with it?" Blaster offered, figuring that he could be more helpful with the possible spikes of arousal. "And hey, maybe ya could find someone tah interface with zero strings attached? Or go to a pleasure club."

The Polyhexian frowned at Blaster, thinking he was trying to joke with him. "Blaster, I'm not going to drag someone to Ironhide's and frag them. That's rude. And I'm not going to go into a room filled with pleasure bots." He made a secret vow to himself that he would never go inside a pleasure bot house or club as long as he lived.

So, what do you think will happen next? Let me know in the comments. :)